Maps show flood damage

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THE devastating extent of the Bundaberg region's Christmas floods is now available at people's fingertips, following the launch of an interactive mapping service on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority's website.

With just a click of a button, users can highlight on an aerial photograph where the water rose in Bundaberg.

It is believed to be the first time such a service has been publicly available, and is also expected to be an important resource for future natural disasters.

At the launch of the maps yesterday, Premier Anna Bligh said the website would also allow people to provide feedback on the maps, as well as zoom into their own address.

“No more guess work. Real photographs, real flood lines,” she said.

She said the maps would allow people to type in an address to find out where it was in relation to the actual flood line.

“This is a first. In past flood events, such as Brisbane's 1974 floods and other major flood events in the state, mapping of flood lines has been done by measuring the water gauge heights and then relying on available land contours to make an educated guess on where the water went,” Ms Bligh said.

“To prepare for future events, we need to do better than educated guesses and this website can help make Queenslanders more prepared than ever before.”

Bundaberg's digitally enhanced map shows a large blue stain across the CBD and around the city's east and north sides.

Website users can also take off the blue flood lines and view only the aerial photo which was taken during the flooding.